Marin History Watch: Highway skyway through San Rafael

On Nov. 2, 1941, dedication ceremonies celebrated the opening of the Highway 101 "skyway" over five San Rafael city blocks and Irwin Creek. By 1940, some 12,500 cars had been traversing San Rafael every day — the new overpass was to help alleviate chronic heavy traffic by allowing drivers to bypass downtown San Rafael and all its traffic lights. "Modern" types of construction were used to create the cement "flyover," the first in northern California and the second in the state to allow cars to circumvent a city center. About a half mile in length and costing $391,000, it was at the time the most expensive piece of roadway in the state's "far flung system of highways." Construction of the viaduct is shown in progress in 1941.

History Watch is provided by the Marin History Museum, www.marinhistory.org, and appears Tuesday in the Generations section. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 382-0770 or by email at photoservices@marinhistory.org